Software update Snow Leopard 10.6.8 can't check for updates

try this:

try trashing this preference file com.apple.softwareupdate.plist

there are a few:

one in your home folder/library/preferences

also in user/Library/Preferences/ByHost subfolder

another in the /library/preferences

now restart your Mac.

when done, try running software update again.

How much free space on the startup disk?

Right or control click the MacintoshHD icon. Click Get Info. In the Get Info window you will see Capacity and Available. Make sure you have a minimum of 15% free disk space.

That should be sufficient but probably a good idea to keep an eye on it.

Wouldn't hurt to rule out any problems with the startup disk just in case.

Launch Disk Utility /Applications/Utilities

Select the startup disk in the panel on the left then select the First Aid tab.

Click: Verify Disk (not Verify Disk Permissions)

Boot from your install disc to make repairs if necessary.

Using Disk Utility to verify or repair disks

That's good news.

Do you have anti virus software installed by chance?

Which software update are you looking for? There may be a standalone installer available on the Apple site.

According to your graphic you have v10.6.8 installed and that's as far as you can go with Snow Leopard.

Ok... even if your software is up to date the updater should tell you that and not freeze.

If you haven't done so, try restarting your Mac. Try again.

Try this experiment...

Temporarily remove the file,

/Library/Receipts/InstallHistory.plist

See if software update works without that plist. If not, put it back.

The basis for this suggestion is that I believe that this plist is the one software update uses for its Installed Software information. Perhaps it checks this plist to see if updates are needed and the plist is damaged in some way, enough to hang the checking process.

Note, the owner:group for this plist is root:admin so be careful it stays that way.

Is there anything in the system log that may indicate some problem?

Another experiment...

Try booting in safe mode. I'm not sure software update will work in that state but try it to see. If it doesn't don't worry about it. Then reboot normally and try the software update again.

The theory behind this experiment is that some caches are cleared when booting in safe mode (not to mention lots of other stuff is suppressed). Perhaps there's a cache that's fouled up and clearing it is all it takes. The problem of course with this experiment is that if it is a cache problem the specific cache that software update is tripping over may not be cleared with the safe boot since not all caches are cleared with this mode.

Extending the cache theory, a more radical approach (but not dangerous I believe) is to explicitly clear caches with a tool like Onyx. If you decide to use it look at its "Cleaning" tab.

Macclint - Do yo have any idea what you did? besides the suggestions above? I seem to be having the same problems..nothings working - wondering if SA got a bad bunch of Macs imported?